Writing instrument



Feb.

- Filed March 25', 1957' Fig? 3.

D. J. JACOBSON WRITING INSTRUMENT 2 Sheets-Sheer. 1

I INVENTOR. Darwin c]. (Jacob son Feb. 24, 1959 D. J. JACOBSON WRITINGINSTRUMENT,

"2 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed March 25, 1957 INVENTOR. Darwzn clc/ac'obsonUnited States Patent WRITING INSTRUMENT Darwin J. Jacobson, Scottsburg,Oreg. Application March 25, 1957, Serial No. 648,266

9 Claims. (Cl. 12045.6)

This invention relates to an improved writing or drawing instrument andmore particularly to an improved instrument of the type described havingmeans for controlling and regulating the width orbreadth of lineinscribed by the instrument.

Generally it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedwriting and drawing instrument by means of which clear, sharp, anddistinct lines may be drawn, the width of the line inscribed by theinstrument being readily controlled by the user thereof.

In writing, drawing, and calligraphy, the advantages incident with theuse of a writing instrument having a variable breadth of line have longbeen recognized. In the case of ordinary hand writing, for instance,many users find it convenient to vary the thickness or breadth of line,depending upon the clarity required and the size of the figures orletters drawn. In drafting, the breadth of a line is subject towide'variation, depending upon the importance of the line inscribed.Similarly, in the case of calligraphy, it is highly desirable to be ableto produce a wide variety of line widths or breadths.

Generally, the writing instrument of this invention comprises a pen bodyportion which is held inthe users hand and which conventionally wouldhave a cylindrical or semicylindrical shape. Carried at one end of thebody portion and adapted to engage a writing surface are a pair ofinscribing or blade elements, each having a nib portion which rides overthe writing surface and imparts ink on the surface. The writinginstrument includes a variable spacing means operable to spread apartthe nib portions of the inscribing elements through the action of awedging portion which engages inwardly disposed faces of the inscribingelements and spreads them apart as the wedging portion is advancedbetween the inscribing elements. In the preferred embodiment of out rdlf m, be w en. h i sc n lemen B a ing meansinterposed between theinscribing elements and the confining mechanism normally urges, in theab- Se s f a wr t p ur exerted nward y pon the writing instrument, theconfining mechanism against the inscribing elements so as to bring the.nib portions of the elements together, d he w n n me t pre ds h ibportion f; he writing instrument apart againstthe urging of the biasingmeans. Preferably, an adjustable-limitmeans is included o limiting m e nf th v ds s p rt o downa d b n he. ri in d me ts; and r b the mai mu b ed o lin ins r bed by e in trumen Td n nc' e, eed f. n t n ument and. o

Writing ressure exer e on v Ic assist in laying out the ink when a broadline is being drawn, the instrument is provided with a supplemental nibportion which engages the Writing surface after the nib portions of theinscribing elements have been spread apart a predetermined amount.Structure associated with the supplemental nib projects downwardlybetween the nib portions of the inscribing elements when they are spreadapart to insure adequate capillary action of the ink feed to the nibs ofthe instrument. The inscribing elements are mounted in the instrument bymeans of tongue portions at the inner ends of the inscribing elementsslidably received in a receiving chamber formed in the body of the pen.The slidable mounting of the inner ends of the inscribing elements aswell as the flexible nature of the inscribing elements accommodatemovement of the nib portions laterally and apart from each other as thewriting pressure exerted on the instrument is increased.

A more specific object of this invention, therefore, is to provide animproved writing instrument capable of making a light or heavy linedepending upon, and responsive to, the amount of writing pressureexerted upon the body of the pen.

Another object of the invention is to provide a writing instrumenthaving a pair of inscribing elements provided with nibs which has asupplemental point or nib operable to come in contact With the writingsurface after the writing pressure upon the pen reaches a pre determinedamount and the nibs of the inscribing elements have been spread apartthereby to insure the production of a solid broad line.

A related object of the invention is to provide such a writinginstrument wherein the supplemental nib has associated therewith bladestructure co-operating withthe. sides of the inscribing elements to feedink from the reservoir in the pen to the nibs of the inscribingelements.

A further. object is 'to provide a writing instrument, having a pair ofinscribing elements and nibs, so constructed that the nibs of theinscribing elements tend to level themselves with one another in theabsence ,of writing pressure exerted on the instrument and wherein thenibs adjust themselves vertically with respect to one another toaccommodate the variations in the contact angle of the nibs with thewriting surface depending upon the writing habits of the user of theinstrument.

Still further, it is an object of the invention to .provide a writinginstrument, readily adjustable as to breadth of line, which ridessmoothly over a writing surface without excessive chatter, scratching,or other noises, irrespective of whether the pen is moved forward orbackward over the writing surface, or from side to side.

Still another object is to provide a writing instrument which willinscribe a line of variable breadth and which may be adjusted so as tolimit the breadth of line inscribed by the instrument.

And yet another object of the invention is to provide a writinginstrument of the type described which is of sturdy construction,capable of withstanding extensive use, and which may be readily repairedin the event that portions of the pen become damaged during use.

These and other objects and advantages are attained by the presentinvention described hereinbelow in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

Fig. l is top view, considerably enlarged, of a writing instrumentembodying this invention, illustrating the position of the inscribingelements of the instrument in the absence of any writing pressureapplied to the instrument;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the writing instrument illus tratedin Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line 4-4 in Fig, 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view along the line 55 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an end view of the instrument showing the condition of theparts when writing pressure is applied to the writing instrument; and

Fig. 7 is a side view, partially broken away, showing the instrumentwith the condition of the parts illustrated in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings where an embodiment of this invention isillustrated, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, 10 indicatesgenerally the body of the pen. Body 10 includes a cylindrical sleevesection 11, containing internal threads 12, which is threaded onto andsecured to a cylindrical core 13. Extending longitudinally along core 13is an ink feed passage 16 which may have a channel shaped cross-section,as best illustrated in Fig. 5. Feed passage 16 is conventional andcommunicates at its upper, rear end with the usual ink bladder (notshown) carried within the body of the instrument and covered by sleeveportion 11. As is customary with conventional pens, means are includedfor compressing the ink bladder and subsequently releasing the bladderto enable filling of the bladder by drawing ing inwardly through passage16 when the bladder is allowed to expand.

Carried side by side at the lower end of body 10 are a pair ofinscribing elements or blade elements 21 and 22. Referring to Figs. 2,4, and 7, each of the blade elements 21, 22 has at its inner end atongue portion, indicated at 23 and 24, respectively. The tongueportions project into and are slidably received in a receiving chamber26 formed at the lower end of the core 13.

Blade elements 21 and 22 are provided at their lower, outer ends withnib portions 27 and 28, respectively. The nibs are carried at the lowerend of the blade elements and engage the writing surface during use ofthe instrument. The nibs are rounded at their forward and rear edges,and along their side edges, so as to ride freely over the writingsurface.

Intermediate the nib and tongue portions 'of each blade element is anear portion, indicated at 29 and 31, respectively. These projectupwardly and incline outwardly, as best seen in Figs. 3 and 6, from baseportions 34 and 35 of the inscribing elements.

With reference to Fig. 4, tongue portions 23 and 24 of the bladeelements lie parallel to and adjacent one another in chamber 26. Inkfeeds downwardly through channel 16 into chamber 26 and thence betweentongue portions downwardly to the nib portions for the inscribingelements. The blades or inscribing elements are spaced apart in chamber26 in any convenient manner, as by depressions or dimples 32 stampedinto the tongue portion of one of the blade members.

Each of the inscribing elements is ground or milled out slightly, as at33, so that the blade across the area 33 is somewhat thinner than therest of the blade. This contributes flexibility to each blade at thispoint, per

mitting the outer end of each blade to flex outwardly relative to theinner end or tongue portion for each blade. 7 I

Carried above base portions 34, 35 of each blade and co-operating withthe inner and outer faces of the ear portions for each blade is a guidestructure indicated generally at 36 which regulates the spacing of the'nib' portions. Guide structure 36 functions as a variable spacingmechanism for the nib elements of this invention.

Top wall 38 has slots 39 and 41. (best seen in Fig. 1) formed thereinand slidably receiving each of the ear portions 29, 31. The ear portionsslide in guide structure 36 against the inner faces of side walls 43, 44and against edge faces 46 and 47 presented by slots 39 and 41. The guidestructure is attached to body 10 of the writing instrument by means of aneck 48, attached'at Guide structure 36 includes a front wall 37, atopwall 38, rear wall 40, and side walls 43 and 44.

a clamping ring 49. Clamping ring 49 is secured, as by press fitting, tocore 13 of the writing instrument.

Depending downwardly from top wall 38 is a supplemental blade portion 51carrying at its lower end a supplemental nib portion 52. As best seen inFig. 2, in the absence of writing pressure on body 10, the base of blade51, indicated at 53, is spaced vertically above the juncture of the earportion for each of the blade elements 21, 22 and bases 34, 35 of theseblade elements. It should also be noted that nib 52 is spaced verticallyover the upper edges of nibs 27 and 28. Blade portion 51 and nib 52enter between the bases and nibs of blades 21, 22 after the outer endsof the blades have been spread apart so as to accommodate their entry asde scribed hereinbelow.

When writing pressure is exerted on the instrument of this invention,guide structure 36 moves downwardly, by reason of the force deliveredthrough neck portion 48, relative to ear portions 29, 31. Tongueportions 23 and 24 are free to slide upwardly within receiving chamber26, the parts, when guide structure 36 is fully dcpressed, occupying theposition illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. As top wall 38 of the guidestructure is advanced inwardly between the inner faces of ear portions29, 31, base portions 34, 35 and nibs 27, 28 are spread apartaccompanied by fiexure of the inscribing elements at area 33. Top wall38 acts as a wedging portion, spreading the nibs of the instrumentlaterally from each other as it is advanced downwardly between the earportions. Base 53 of blade 51 is spaced a sufiicient distance above thejuncture of bases 34, 35 with car portions 29, 31 so that base 53 doesnot enter the area between the bases of blade elements 21, 22 until theyhave been spread apart by top wall 38. When nibs 27, 28 are spreadapart, supplemental blade portion 51 co-operates with the inner faces ofbase portions 34, 35 in feeding ink by capillary action to the end ofthe instrument. Supplemental nib 52 contacts the writing surface afternibs 27, 28 have been spread apart a predetermined amount, insuring thata full, even line is applied to the writing surface even when nibs 27,28 are fully extended.

Referring in particular to Figs. 1, 3, and 4, secured proximate thelower end of clamping ring 49 by means of brackets 56, 57 and 60 stampedin the clamping ring, is a biasing mechanism or spring 58. The outerends of spring 58 are seated by hook portions 59 and 61 on the upperedges of ear portions 29 and 31, respectively. Spring 58 urges the outerends of blade elements 21 and 22 downwardly relatively to guidestructure 36 thereby to withdraw top wall 38 of the guide structure frombetween the inner faces of the ear portions and at the same time draw upouter walls 43 and 44 against the outer faces of the ear portions; Walls43 and 44 thus function as a confining mechanism operable to close thenib portions of inscribing elements 21, 22 upon the release of writingpressure applied to the writing instrument.

Projecting upwardly from and secured to the upper face of top wall 38 isa threaded stud 62. Laterally disposed from stud 62 and secured to topwall 38 is a guide pin 63. Seated around stud 62 and guide pin 63 is alimiting bar 64. A compression spring 66 encircles threaded stud 62 andhas its lower end abutting the top face of top wall 38 and its upper endabutting the lower face of limiting bar 64. A hand knob 67 is screwedover the upper end of stud 62. Hand knob 64 and the limiting bar providea manually adjustable means for vertically positioning bar 64 relativeto top wall 38, the bar 64 moving either up or down on stud 62 and pin63 depending upon whether knob 64 is turned to move down on or to backoff of stud 62. The bar limits upward movement of the ear portionsrelative to the guide structure. This enables the user of the instrumentto set the variable spacing mechanism for a maximum spacing its lowerend to top wall 38 and its rear, upper end to of nibs 27, 28. For agiven setting of hand knob 67,

nibs 27 and 28 spread apart in response to writing pres; sure exerted onthe writing instrument until such as the writing pressure suflicient tocause the ear 7 portions to engage limiting bar 658 which limits furtherspreading of the nibs.

From the above description, it is obvious that the herein disclosedinvention has a number ofadvantages not present in constructions knownto date. The nibs of the writing instrument are spread apart by awedging portion which engages the inner faces of the inscribing or bladeelements and returned to a closed condition by side walls 43 and 44engaging the outer faces of the blade elements. Thus, in effect,movement of the nibs in either direction is brought about by apositivecamming action imparted to the blade elements' Return spring 58 may beselected so that the writing pressure required to bring about a certainseparation of the nibs is that most convenient for the particular user.The .return spring is easily replaced in the event that the pen is to beused by another or in the event the spring becomes worn out. 7 i

Whether the nibs are in a contracted or extended posi tion, an adequatesupply of ink is provided the "nibs through the capillary actionoccurring on the inner faces of the blade elements. Base 53 of theintermediate or supplemental blade portion facilitates the feed of inkwhen the nibs are fully thrust apart.

The nibs for the inscribing elements, as well as the supplemental nib,are conformed as shown in Figs. 2

and 7, enabling theinstrument to be drawn either back:

ward or forward or from side to side on a writing surface withoutappreciable chattering of scratching irrespective of the writingpressure exerted on the instrument.

' The writing instrument may be revolved about its longitudinal axis theusers hand so that the nibsof the instrument engage a writing surface atan angle deviating from the normal position illustrated in 'Figs3 and 6.Each of-the blade or inscribing elements isindependently movable in theguide structure, against the. biasing action of return spring 58,enabling the instrumentto be used with the nibs of the instrumentinclined relative to the writing surface without harm to the instrument.i

If desired, the instrument may be dip filled, and ink collected in thespace between the upper portions of the inscribing elements and thespace between the ear portions of the inscribing elements.

The writing instrument of this invention is particular- 1y useful fordrafting purposes. When the instrument .is raised from a writingsurface, the nibs of .the instrument come together, holding the inl;between the blades of the instrument. When a line is drawn, the nibsspread apart;

and the ink flows instantly from the blades onto the Writing 1Tb? sustantiall i sta t of ink from the nibs eliminates I necessity of havingto draw several practice lines prior to ruling a line on a draftingboard, as must frequently be done with conventional pens.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A writing instrument comprising an elongated. body pontion, a pair ofinscribing elements yieldably. mounted side by side at'one'end of saidbody portion whereby the lower ends of said inscribing elements aretransversely movable relative to said body portion, each of saidinscribing elements having a nib portion carried at the lower endthereof for engaging a writing surface, and variable spacing meanssecured to said body portion operable to spread apart said nib portions,said variable spacing means having a wedging portion slidable relativeto said inscribing elements spaced intermediate said inscribing elementsengaging inwardly disposed faces of said inscribing elements and adaptedto spread said nib portions laterally from each other upon advancingsaid ments 11119111118 apn qa sn 'a Writ n -Pasteu 9 1 said instrument.N

Q writing instrument comprising an elongated body portion; a pair ofinscribing element s" yieldabl'y mounted side by side at one end of saidbody portion whereby the lower ends of said inscribing elements aretransver e ly movable relative to said body portiomeach of said in:scribing elements having a nib portion carried at the lower end thereoffor engaging a writing surface; and variable spacing means fixed to saidbody portion operable to spread apart said nib portions; said variablespacing means having a wedging portion slidable relative to saidinscribing elements spaced intermediate said in: scribing elementsengaging inwardly disposed faces of said inscribing elements and adaptedto spread said nib portions laterally from each otherupon advancing saidwedging portion between said inscribing elements, and confining meansslidable relative to said inscribing elements engaging outwardlydisposed faces of said iriscrib: ing elements and adapted to bringtogether said nib portions upon withdrawing said wedging portion fromsaid inscribing elements, said wedging portion advancing between saidinscribing elements upon the application of writing pressure on saidwriting instrument.

3. A writing instrument comprising an elongated body portion; a pair ofinscribing elements yieldably mounted side by side at one end of saidbody portion'whereby the lower ends of said inscribing elements aretransversely movable relative to'said body portion; each of saidinscribing elements having a nib per-tion carried at the lower endthereof for engaging a writing surface; and variable spacing meanssecured to said body portion operable to spread apart said nib portions;said variable pac n mean having a wed o t qn l ble e ati e to saidinscribing elements spaced intermediate said in: scribing elementsengaging inwardly disposed faces of said inscribing elements and adaptedto spread said nib portions laterally from each other upon'advancingsaid wedging portion between said inscribing km nts, con:

, fining means slidable re'lativeto said inscribing elements engagingoutwardly disposed faces of said inscribing elements and adapted tobring together said nib portions upon withdrawing said wedging portionfrom said inscribing elements, and spring means operzitivelyinter: posedbetween said inscribing elements and said con: fining means urging saidnibportions together. 4. A writing instrument comprising a body portion,a pair of inscribing elements mounted side by side atone end of saidbody portion, each of said inscribing ele: ments av n a nib PQ fiQl rrd. at e Em 1 thereof for engaging a writing surface, variable spacingmeans secured to said body pot-tion operable to spread apart said nibportions, said variable spacing means hav: ing a wedging portionslidable relative to said inscribing eleme s S d w n Po t n bein spacedi m d a e said inscribing elements and engaginginwardlydisposed faces ofsaid'inscribing elements thereby, to spread said. nib portions laterallyfrom each other upon advancing said wedging portion between saidinscribing elements, and a supplemental nib portion carried by said bodyportion intermediate said inscribing elements movable relative to saidinscribing elements with said wedging portion, said supplemental nibportion being operable to engage a writing surface intermediate the nibportions of said inscribing elements upon a predetermined spacing ofsaid last mentioned nib portions by said variable spacing means.

5. A writing instrument comprising a body portion; a

7 pair of inscribing elements mounted side by side at one wedgingportion between said inscribing elements, said wedging portion advancingbetween said inscribing eleend of said body portion; each of saidinscribing elements having a nib portion carried at the lower endthereof for engaging a writing surface; variable spacing means operableto spread apart said nib portions; said variable spacing means having awedging portion carried by said body portion and movable under writingpressure relative to said inscribing elements, said wedging portionbeing spaced intermediate said inscribing elements and engaging inwardlydisposed faces of said inscribing elements to spread said nib portionslaterally from each other upon advancing said wedging portion betweensaid inscribing elements, and confining means carried by said bodyportion engaging outwardly disposed faces of said inscribing elementsand adapted to bring together said nib portions upon withdrawing saidwedging portion from said inscribing elements; and a supplemental nibportion carried by said body portion intermediate said inscribingelements in fixed position relative to said wedging portion, saidsupplemental nib portion being operable to engage the writing surfaceintermediate the nib portions of said inscribing elements upon apredetermined spacing of said last mentioned nib portions by saidvariable spacing means.

6. A writing instrument comprising a body portion; a pair of inscribingelements slidably mounted side by side at one end of said body portion;each of said inscribing elements having a nib portion carried at thelower end thereof for engaging a writing surface; variable spacing meanssecured to said body portion operable to spread apart said nib portions;said variable spacing means having a wedging portion spaced intermediatesaid inscribing elements slidably relative thereto, said wedging portionengaging inwardly disposed faces of said inscribing elements when tospread said nib portions laterally from each other when said wedgingportion is advanced between said inscribing elements, and confiningmeans slidable relative to said inscribing elements engaging outwardlydisposed faces of said inscribing elements and adapted to bring togethersaid nib portions upon withdrawing said wedging portion from saidinscribing elements; a supplemental nib portion carried by said bodyportion movable relative to said inscribing elements and operable toengage the writing surface intermediate the nib portions of saidinscribing elements upon a predetermined spacing of said last mentionednib portions by said variable spacing means;'and spring meansoperatively interposed between said inscribing elements and saidconfining means urging said nib portions together.

7. A' writing instrument comprising a body portion, a pair of flexibleblade elements mounted side by side with their inner ends each slidablyreceived within said body portion, each of said blade elements'having anib portion carried at the lower end thereof for engaging a writingsurface, each of said blade elements having intermediate its ends an earportion projecting upwardly and inclining outwardly from the nib portion'of the blade element, and a wedging portion carried by said bodyportion in a fixed position relative to said'body portion and spacedintermediate said ear portions, said wedging portion being slidablerelative to said ear portions and engaging inwardly disposed faces ofsaid ear portions to spread apart said nib portions by flexing apart theouter ends of said blade elements when said wedging portion is advancedinwardly between said blade elements.

'8. A writing instrument comprising a body portion, a receiving chamberat one end of said body portion, a pair of flexible blade elementscarried side by side by said body portion, each of said blade elementshaving at its inner end a tongue portion slidably received within saidreceiving chamber of said body portion, each of said blade elementshaving a nib portion carried at the lower end thereof for engaging awriting surface, an ear portion intermediate the ends of each of saidblade portions projecting upwardly and inclining outwardly from the nibportion of the blade element, a wedging portion carried by said bodyportion in fixed position relative to said body portion and spacedintermediate said ear portions, said wedging portion being slidablerelative to said ear portions and engaging inwardly disposed faces ofsaid ear portions to spread apart said nib portions by flexing apart theouter ends of said blade elements when said wedging portion is advancedinwardly between said blade elements, and confining means carried bysaid body portion in fixed position relative to said body portionengaging outwardly disposed faces of said ear portions and adapted tobring together said nib elements upon movement of said confining meansupwardly against the outer faces of said ear portions.

9. A writing instrument comprising a body portion, a receiving chamberat one end of said body portion, a pair of flexible blade elementscarried side by side by said body portion, said blade elements eachhaving at its inner end a tongue portion slidably received within saidreceiving chamber of said body portion, each of said blade elementshaving a nib portion carried at the lower end thereof for engaging awriting surface, an ear portion intermediate the ends of each of saidblade portions projecting upwardly and inclining outwardly from the nibportion of the blade element, a wedging portion carried by said bodyportion in a fixed position relative to said body portion and spacedintermediate said ear portions, said wedging portion being slidablerelative to said ear portions and engaging inwardly disposed faces ofsaid ear portions to spread apart said nib portions by flexing apart theouter ends of said blade elements when said wedging portion is advancedinwardly between said blade elements, confining means carried by saidbody portion in fixed position relative to said body portion engagingoutwardly disposed faces of said ear portions and adapted to bringtogether said nib elements upon movement of said confining meansupwardly against the outer faces of said ear portions, and asupplemental nib portion carried by said body portion in fixed positionrelative to said body portion engaging the writing surface intermediatethe nib portions of said inscribing elements upon a predeterminedspacing of said last mentioned nib portions by said wedging portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,567,608 Lepkowski Sept. 11, 1951 2,588,015 Kochendoerifer Mar. 4, 1952FOREIGN PATENTS 946,616 France Dec. 27, 1948 268,565 Switzerland Sept.1, 1950

